Sunday, October 7, 2007

Camden robs Owls, gives to Kewpies

In its final home game of the season under the lights, the Hickman boys soccer program honored its 12 seniors yesterday. There was the standard pregame ceremony in which the seniors gave their mothers a bouquet of flowers and posed for pictures with their parents and Coach Larry Thornburg.

There was also a homemade poster for each of the senior players and the lone senior cheerleader on display along the chain link fence near the entrance to Hickman Field.Many of the posters were decorated with youth soccer team pictures and action shots. There were pictures of Evan Camden playing soccer on his poster, but there were also images that showcased Camden’s life off the field.

Included on the poster was a 1994 photo of 5-year-old Camden dressed as Robin Hood with face-paint facial hair. Thirteen years later things have not changed much.

Camden played the role of hero again yesterday when he scored the game-winning goal in Hickman’s 3-0 victory over Marshall. He now has a team-high 12 goals on the season.

"You know, if not a goal, at least something is going to happen - a second chance or even an assist" - when Camden has the ball, fellow senior captain Harrison Cunningham said.Camden scored in the 31st minute when he ran onto the ball and one-touched it past Marshall senior goalkeeper Mike Sartor who had come off his line to challenge for the ball. The goal was setup by a nice pass into the penalty box by senior Ben Dierkes.

"Which is good for him because he never plays midfield," said Camden of his friend Dierkes. "So for him to get an assist, that’s pretty neat."

Dierkes plays stopper, but on Senior Night he and a number of his classmates played out of position because Thornburg decided to play just seniors in the first half. In a regular game, about half of the senior class starts for the Kewpies.

"I liked the part about playing all together with just seniors because it’s the last chance we all have just to play with only the seniors before we go into district play," John Corbin said. "It was nice just to kind of say goodbye to everyone, even though it was only for a half."

In the second half, Thornburg played the nine juniors and sophomores on the varsity squad. Goalkeeper Justin Schmidt and sweeper Kyle Boger were the two seniors on the field to start the second half. The only other senior to play in the final 40 minutes of the game was Boger’s sub, David Garman.

A pair of juniors added insurance goals for Hickman (8-6-1) in the second half.

Mason Morawitz scored the second goal of the game in the 61st minute when he took a pass from Jervis Atagana and slotted the ball past Sartor.

Atagana also scored the final goal of the game in the 72nd minute on a nice individual effort. He dribbled into the box and took a shot, but Sartor got a piece of it. Atagana beat a number of Marshall defenders to the rebound and buried the ball in the back of the net.

Thornburg used the game against Marshall (5-9) to evaluate players before the Class 3 District 10 Tournament.

"I just watched," Thornburg said. "Districts are coming up and I’m starting to look for players to be the starting team for the districts, and I just wanted to see these guys play tonight. So I just thoroughly enjoyed it."

The Kewpies sit atop the district standings with a 4-0 record. Their final regular-season game against a district opponent is Oct. 16 in Jefferson City against Helias. The district tournament begins Oct. 27 and the top two teams receive a first-round bye.

QUINCY TOURNAMENT IN QUINCY ILLINOIS: From Columbia Take 70 West to Kingdom City. Take 54 North to Mexico and then 54 east and north (54/19) to Laddonia. From Laddonia take 19 North to New London and then 61 North to Hannibal. When you get to Hannibal, you will need to take a right at the sign that says Quincy or to Illinois or to Springfield which is hwy 72 across the river. You will then pick up Highway 172 north to Quincy. In Quincy take the Broadway exit and go left.The fields we are playing on are located on State Street. The streets in Quincy that run West to East are numbered streets. The Mississippi River is to the West and the street numbers get higher the further East you go. When you enter from highway 172 the first street you will see is 48th street. Go left. At State St turn right and the park is a few blocks on the right. The Paul Dennis Complex is located on State between 36th and 48th street.

JEFFERSON CITY- 179 SOCCER PARK: Take 63 to Jeff City. Across the river take Hwy 50 toward Sedalia. Take the hwy 179 exit and turn right onto 179. The soccer park is about 3 miles on your left.

DESMET High school from CBC High school (about 3 miles): leave CBC and turn left (east) onto N Forty Dr. Turn right onto Conway Rd. Follow Conway Rd to left at S New Ballas Rd and it is about 1.2 miles to the high school at 233 N. New Ballas Rd.

CBC High school in St Louis: about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Take I-70 east to US40E/US61S just past Wentzville. Head toward Chesterfield/Forrest Park. About 23 miles to Mason Rd exit. Take S Mason Rd north back over the highway. Turn right on N. Forty Dr and the high school is on your left about a mile at 1850 De la Salle Dr.

CAMDENTON: Hwy 54 out of Jeff City to Hwy 5 in Camdenton. Turn left (east) on to Hwy 5. Continue on Hwy 5 for 5 or 6 blocks and can see the school campus on your left (north side of road). Turn on to Dare Blvd and the stadium is a block or two behind the schools.

SMITHTON TOURNAMENT: I-70 west to Booneville. Exit on Hwy 5 south. From Hwy 5 take Hwy 50 west. Go to Hwy W and turn south. Follow Hwy W into Smithton. Turn east on to E. Washington St. (I think this is a continuation of Hwy W), Turn right (south) on to Myrtle Ave and the school is 550 Myrtle Ave. Games are at the school.

ROLLA: Hwy 63 out of Jefferson City. Continue on Hwy 63 into Rolla. Turn left (east) on to 10th St. Continue on 10th St about 8 blocks to N. Cedar St. High School is at corner of N. Cedar and 10th St. Soccer field is behind the high school.